Despite Unfavorable Outcome, MGA Enjoys the Emerald Isle

By Kate Keller

Thursday, May 7

Several of the MGA Team members departed this morning for New York Mike Reardon, Cameron Wilson and Robert Cronheim all stayed at Portmarnock to play in the Irish Amateur Open Championship beginning Friday, May 8 at Royal Dublin.

A few of us, Al Small and his wife Patti, Gene Westmoreland and his wife Mary and I, traveled to The North. The drive along the cost of Ireland is spectacular! Everywhere you looked there was natural beauty in some form, whether it was the mountains on our left or the Irish Sea on our right.

We visited Royal County Down Golf Club. It was just as picturesque as one can imagine, and all were raving about the experience of playing this world famous course. Mary and I toured the quaint town of New Castle and sampled the local shopping and cuisine. Then it was back into the car to head further north to Port Rush!

Wednesday, May 6

It was another great finish today, although the outcome didn't come out the way the MGA had intended. Members of both teams played great and the awards reception was lovely. MGA President Al Small and team captain Gene Westmoreland stressed how much pride they had in their team, and how impressive the caliber of play was this week. Gene said it best, "When we arrived on Monday, there were some new friends and some old friends, and after today, we are ALL old friends".

We made plans with P.J. Collins, President of the GUI, and Rollo McClure, Honorary Treasurer of the GUI, to meet up when they visit New York for the U.S. Open in June. They were also invited to join us at the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association Dinner on June 16th where Gene will be honored with the Distinguished Service Award. All in all, it was a great day for the game of golf.